10 Best Rib Rubs to Buy for Perfectly Seasoned and Delicious Ribs

This guide will help narrow down the best rib rubs to buy so that you can get that balance between tried & true and experimentation that goes with legendary ribs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of rib rub options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are trying to hit the perfect regional variety (Memphis fans here!), get a crowd-pleaser, or just experiment, these rib rubs are sure to inspire.

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Developing Your Own Rib Rubs

It might seem daunting or a pain but don’t be afraid to try your own rib rub recipe after buying some good ribs. Start with sugar, salt, and pepper – and build from there.

Pick some seasonings (such as chili powder, cayenne pepper, etc) that you like, toss them together in a plastic bag, shake to mix, and boom, you’ve got a rub. It’s a lot more fun – and a lot cheaper (same goes for pulled pork rub). Even the best pitmasters use their own rubs when cooking ribs for meals with great sides.

That said, there are plenty of pre-made rubs worth the money (which also work for pork rubs). And the price is really just to pay for convenience, not ingredients. So with that caveat out of the way, here’s the list!

1. Traeger Grills SPC173 Prime Rib Rub

If you’re looking for the best dry rib rub to buy, look no further than Traeger Grills SPC173 Prime Rib Rub. This Kosher and gluten-free rub is packed with delicious garlic and herb flavors, making it the perfect choice for pork rib or beef rib.

2. Famous Dave’s Rib Rub Seasoning

If you’re looking for an award-winning dry rub seasoning, Famous Dave’s has you covered. With a blend of hand-picked spices, this rub is perfect for pork chops, ribs, and steak. It comes in five delicious flavors and also includes BBQ sauce, cornbread mix, and more.

Dave’s Seasonings has received multiple awards for its mouthwatering flavor combinations, making it a favorite rib rub to buy.

3. 2 Gringos Chupacabra Ribnoxious Rib Rub

If you’re looking for a rib rub that will give your meats an incredible flavor, you need to check out 2 Gringos Chupacabra Ribnoxious Rib Rub.

This rub is the perfect mix of sweet, savory, and a touch of heat, and it’s versatile enough to be used on any type of meat. Plus, our 25 oz bottle is the perfect size for back-of-house usage and recipe customization.

4. Kick Butt Chipotle Honey Rib Rub

This 10 oz chipotle honey rib rub blend enhances any dish with a bangin’ taste designed for the BBQ fan or grilling aficionado. The Kick Butt BBQ rub can be added to chicken, beef, seafood, and pork dishes, is sweet with a little spice and a whole lot of nice, and makes every meal memorable.

This premium rib rub gift is perfect for the meat seasoning lover in your life and is made in the USA with quality and consistency in mind.

5. Spiceololgy – Prime Rib Rub

Spiceology’s Premier Rib Rub will make your holiday roast come to life with flavors of paprika, garlic, and tomatoes. You’ll love this blend for brisket, prime rib, flank, loin, and chops; again don’t be afraid to use it liberally!

It also goes great with cuts of beef and cuts of pork too- especially Pork Chops! This blend will add a new kick of flavor to your favorite cut that has been getting boring lately.

Bulk container for chefs, commercial kitchens, and home cooks alike means you’ll always have plenty on hand for an unforgettable meal.

6. John Henry’s East Texas Honey Rib Rub

John Henry’s East Texas Honey Rib Rub is one of the most versatile seasonings available. It offers a lemon pepper flavor that is much more enjoyable than the harsh taste of traditional lemon pepper seasonings. This rub is great for cooking fish, chicken wings, vegetables, and stir-fry dishes.

7. Bad Byron’s Butt Rub Barbeque Seasoning BBQ Rubs

If you’re looking for an all-purpose seasoning that will give your meats outdoor flavor at its finest, look no further than Bad Byrons Butt Rub Barbeque Seasoning BBQ Rubs.

This balanced blend of onion, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and chipotle (smoked jalapeno) is used by championship barbeques, professional chefs, and backyard cooks everywhere.

8. Kosmos Q Dirty Bird BBQ Rub

Kosmos Q Dirty Bird BBQ Rub is an award-winning rub that will take your cooking to the next level. The Dirty Bird BBQ Rub is a unique blend of spices that is the perfect balance of savory and kicked-up heat.

It is easy to use and enhances your BBQ creations with a subtle, yet thrilling, warmth. The flavor is so versatile that goes on almost anything.

9. PIT BOSS 40326 Sweet Rib Rub

PIT BOSS 40326 Sweet Rib Rub is one of the best on the market, thanks to its perfect blend of brown sugar, garlic, and spices. What’s more, this rib rub is gluten-free, MSG-free, and contains no artificial colors or preservatives.

So if you’re looking for an incredible rib rub that will take your meat dishes to the next level, look no further than PIT BOSS 40326 Sweet Rib Rub.

10. McCormick Grill Mates Slow & Low Memphis BBQ Rub

When it comes to barbecuing, everyone wants that authentic Memphis BBQ flavor. Now you can achieve it with McCormick Grill Mates Slow & Low Memphis BBQ Rub.

This rub is made with natural herbs and spices, so you can be sure of the highest quality ingredients. It’s also MSG-free, artificial flavor- and color-free, so you can enjoy the taste without any unwanted additives.

11. Killer Hogs The BBQ Rub

If you’re looking for a delicious and reliable BBQ rub, look no further than Killer Hogs The BBQ Rub. This championship-winning rub has been satisfying pitmasters and backyard BBQ enthusiasts alike for years, thanks to its combination of high-quality ingredients and consistent flavor.

12. 3 Eyz Original BBQ Spice Rub

If you’re looking for a perfect BBQ rub to enhance the flavor of your meats, look no further than 3 Eyz Original BBQ Spice Rub.

This award-winning spice blend has been used by the KCBS Team of the Year in 2012 and can help you achieve amazing results with ribs, chicken, pork, and more.

Add a How To Choose The Best Rib Rub To Buy

Here are a few considerations when sorting & choosing the best rib rub.

Quality of Ingredients

The most important thing to look for when choosing a rib rub is the quality of ingredients. A good rub should contain salt, sugar, and any spices you prefer (onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper).

Sugar

Sugar is one of the most important ingredients to look for when choosing a rib rub because it increases flavor and creates that iconic, crispy, caramelized crust.

Salt

Salt is another important ingredient to look for when choosing a rib rub because it also increases flavor and has preservative properties that prevent bacteria growth. We have a preference for kosher salt.

Additionally, salt can help activate the Maillard reaction – a chemical process involving amino acids and reducing sugars that takes place when cooking food above 118°F, which is what causes the flavor-enhancing browning of meat.

Spices

Spices are also important to look for when choosing a dry rub because they create complex and bold flavors that can take your meat to the next level.

Other Flavoring Items

Other things you may look for in a good rib rub are ingredients like garlic or onion powder, liquid smoke, or others you may prefer.

If you want to add these ingredients in granulated form (instead of a liquid) it is best to pick a rub that includes salt and sugar already because they can help everything stick together better.

Your Sides & Flavoring Profile

Think about what kind of meal you want to build around your ribs – what pairs well? There are so many good sides to ribs – but some go with certain flavor profiles (ie, richer vs. lighter; sweeter vs. savory, etc).